John Chromy '64 (March 2012)

The McCarthy Center hosted John Chromy '64 as Scholar-in-Residence

John Chromy '64, vice president at Cooperative Housing Foundation International (CHF), is the fifth annual scholar-in-residence at the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement from March 19-22. Chromy is a 1964 graduate of SJU and has been with CHF since 1966.

Founded in 1952, CHF serves more than 20 million people each year, empowering them to improve their lives and livelihoods for a better future.

CHF currently has programs in more than 25 countries around the world, across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and the Caucasus and the Middle East.

Chromy was part of two public events, which were free and open to the public. He gave a public lecture titled "The Experiences of a Humanitarian Crusader in a Chaotic World" and moderated a student debate titled "Global Financial Markets are Nothing More than the World's Largest Casino."

While at CSB/SJU, Chromy spoke to several classes, visited with faculty and staff, delivered a "Lunch and Learn" talk for the Benedictine Institute of Saint John's titled "The Adventures and Misadventures of Alumnus John Chromy: Sharing Benedictine Values Around the World," and spoke at a local Rotary club luncheon.

Chromy has extensive experience in non-profit management, organizational development in international settings, sustainability and fundraising in the private sector. He also pioneered CHF's unique "Bottom-up Community Participation and Self-Help Planning" approach to economic development, job creation, community stabilization and infrastructure re-construction. He brings a broad experience in managing programs designed to help low-income people on the community and local government levels, and currently manages CHF's relationships with the U.S. Congress and the Department of Defense.